La Escusa by Montenegro

La Escusa by Montenegro is a limited-production project within the Vinos de Madrid Protected Designation of Origin, born from the collaboration between winegrower Carlos Sánchez and Montenegro/CVNE. This joint venture has given rise to a singular wine made from a historic Garnacha vineyard, with the aim of authentically expressing the potential of western Madrid and highlighting the value of its oldest vines.

The heart of the project lies in Aldea del Fresno, in the area known as La Cuqueña, a zone traditionally linked to viticulture and characterised by granite-based soils. The vineyard behind La Escusa covers approximately 1.3 hectares and is planted entirely with century-old bush-trained Garnacha vines, a vineyard heritage of enormous historical and oenological value.

Sandy-loam soils with decomposed granite provide the wines with lightness, aromatic depth and marked minerality. The bush-trained vines and the advanced age of the plants result in very low yields, concentrating the expression of the terroir and producing grapes of great balance and personality.

Carlos Sánchez is a winegrower deeply connected to his environment and to the recovery of Madrid’s traditional vineyards. His work is based on absolute respect for old vines, manual viticulture and minimal intervention both in the vineyard and in the winery. Under his direction, La Escusa seeks to preserve the identity of this historic vineyard, avoiding artifice and prioritising varietal and soil expression. The collaboration with Montenegro provides the project with solid winemaking expertise and precise technical interpretation, while preserving the artisanal character that defines the wine. The result is an elegant, balanced and approachable Garnacha designed to appeal both to experienced wine lovers and the wider public.

Viticulture is carried out traditionally, with manual work throughout every stage of the growing cycle. The old bush vines, perfectly adapted to the continental climate with Mediterranean influence, yield healthy grapes with slow, even ripening. The vineyard is managed without forcing production, respecting the plant’s natural rhythms.

In the winery, the philosophy is to intervene as little as possible in order to accompany the fruit. Vinification is focused on preserving freshness, fruit expression and vineyard character, resulting in a wine that is refined, honest and deeply connected to its origin.